Should I Pick Up Kareem Hunt this Week? Plus Running Back Landing Spots on Leonard Fournette, Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers and More

Injuries have piled up for running backs around the league. Some of these teams are going to have to make a move to get help at the position. There are still a bunch of big-name running backs available in free agency or on the trade block. this is where those guys could land. 

 

Free Agent Running Backs

Should Kareem Hunt Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 3?

There is one obvious landing spot for Hunt and it's the Cleveland Browns now that Nick Chubb went down. However, that's not where we think he ends up. The Browns already chose Jerome Ford over Hunt and it's because Hunt is a better running back at this point in their careers. If Hunt was to land in Cleveland, he'd be the backup. We think Hunt will end up in Indianapolis with the Colts. Jonathan Taylor has not said he's willing to play for the Colts and what we've seen over the past few weeks can only be a deterrent. These backs are getting severely injured and they don't get compensated fairly. They are just thrown on the trash heap and the team moves on. Taylor needs to get paid while he's young. That's why we believe JT gets traded and the Colts bring in Hunt to be the pass-catching back to compliment Zack Moss.

Kareem Hunt is already visiting teams and will surely pick a landing spot soon enough. It just broke that he is visiting the Cleveland Browns.

Kareem Hunt should be on your waiver claims for free agent running backs to grab off the waiver wire. FantasySP currently has him at 9th in terms of waiver priority and 5th in terms of Running Back waiver claims. This is likely your last chance to grab him off waivers before a mad rush occurs later in the week.

Likely Landing Spot: Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns as a secondary option

Leonard Fournette

Fournette may not be what he once was, but he can still serve a purpose. He is the best free-agent running back available currently and someone is going to sign him. It's a rare combination to specialize in pass-catching and short-yardage. A team that has a chance to compete for the playoffs is going to bring him in. Now, which team that is going to be in playoffs might be enamored by a big-name free agent and want to make a splashy move and add Fournette? The answer is obvious and it's the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Pollard is going to wear down and the running back room lacks size. They have Rico Dowdle, but unless he does something special Jerry Jones just won't be able to help himself. He's going to do what he does and go out, and make a splash move that gets headlines. Fournette will take over the role Zeke had last year.

Fournette could be a waiver claim in deeper fantasy leagues and he is currently 19th in terms of waiver priorty with only a 4% own percentage as of today.

Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys 

Running Backs on the Trade Block

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

There are two potential landing spots for JT and they are both undefeated and play in Florida. Taylor will land in either Miami or Tampa Bay. Since not trading for Taylor a few weeks back, Jeff Wilson has landed on IR and now Salvon Ahmed has a groin injury. We are going with the fun option and say that he lands in Miami with Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle. The more they win, the more all-in they are. Raheem Mostert has been excellent, but he's not a guy you can hand it to 15 times a game. Can you imagine having that offense and just dropping Taylor in there? As long as he's healthy, that would be scary. 

Landing Spot: Miami Dolphins

Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are looking to move Akers and someone is going to bite. He will be moved for a Day 3 pick in the NFL Draft. When he is traded, you make sure that you don't bite. Akers is cooked. All summer we told you don't buy into him because the Achilles is undefeated. Over and over we beat the dead horse. Now we have to figure out what team would be willing to make the move and think they can revive his career. Just like fantasy owners, they saw him have a good December last year and could take the bait. That team is the Cleveland Browns. They'll panic now that Chubb is out and make a bad trade because that's what that organization does.  

Landing Spot: Cleveland Browns

 

Potential Trade Deadline Movers

There are a handful of other guys who aren't necessarily on the block, but who you should keep an eye on once we get closer to the trade deadline. We will likely revisit this topic again around that time. Keep an eye on Michael Carter, D'Onta Forman, Jamaal Williams, and Joe Mixon. 

Carter is buried on the depth chart in New York and brings a lot to the table. He's a good running back who can catch passes and is solid in pass protection. This team should trade Dalvin Cook, but no one will take that contract. 

Foreman has dropped down the depth chart in Chicago but has plenty of trade value after playing well in Carolina the past few years. As the Bears fall further into obscurity look for them to move on from their free-agent acquisition. 

Williams doesn't seem to be working out in New Orleans so far. That could change though. However, the concern is he's likely out this week and that could give Kendre Miller a chance to make him obsolete, especially with Alvin Kamara back in Week 4. There is a chance he's on the block at the deadline. 

If Joe Burrow isn't right and the Bengals continue to slip they could move on from Mixon at the trade deadline. This relationship has been shaky at best for a few years now and this is a name we may be looking at come Halloween. 

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